Apparatus And Method For Reducing Energy Consumption In Monitoring Means Of a Plurality Of Piezoelectric Components

Abstract

An apparatus for reducing energy consumption in monitoring means of a plurality of piezoelectric components comprises a plurality of piezoelectric components as well as monitoring means for monitoring the status of the piezoelectric components. The monitoring means have two states namely active and inactive. The piezoelectric components are connected in parallel to each other. A current detecting circuit comprises a switch and a resistor that is connected in parallel to the switch. A controller having two states that are active and inactive. The controller is configured to open the switch in response to the controller being in the inactive state and to close the switch in response to the controller being in the active state. The closing of the switch triggers a state change in the monitoring means from their inactive state to their active state.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The invention relates to sensor technology, and in particular sensors in which piezoelectric components are employed.TECHNICAL BACKGROUND [0002]In machines, devices and systems in which a plurality of piezoelectric components are employed and in which each of the piezoelectric components must be monitored in respective monitoring means, power consumption is high even at times when none of the piezoelectric components is being used since the monitoring is apt to consume power.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]It is the objective of the present invention to reduce power consumption in monitoring means of a plurality of piezoelectric components, at times when none of the piezoelectric components is active.[0004]This objective can be achieved by use of an apparatus according to independent claim 1, and by use of the method according to independent claim 8.[0005]The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the apparatus.[0006]The apparatus for reduci...

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Benefits of technology

[0014]With the apparatus and method, power consumption in monitoring means of a plurality of piezoelectric components can be reduced at times when none of the piezoelectric components is being used.

[0015]The inventors have noticed that, in all earlier machines, devices and systems known to them, where a plurality of piezoelectric components have been employed, either specific monitoring circuits for each piezoelectric component has been used, or each of the piezoelectric components has been connected to a multiplexer. In order to monitor the piezoelectric components, each of the specific monitoring circuits has to poll the respective piezoelectric component, or, if the multiplexer solution has been chosen, the multiplexer has to poll each of the piezoelectric components continuously. Both solutions consume a lot of power.

[0016]The present apparatus makes use of the finding that a single current detecting circuit can be used to monitor activity of a plurality of piezoelectric components and, if activity is detected, trigger a state change in the monitoring means. By using a single current detecting circuit, power can be saved since the power consumption is, at times when none of the piezoelectric components is active, no more proportional to the number of piezoelectric components that are to be monitored.

[0019]ii) in response to detecting that at least one of said piezoelectric components is active, closes the switch in the apparatus, thereby triggering a state change in the monitoring means to the active state.

[0020]This approach is useful for both the approach of having a multiplexer to monitor a plurality of piezoelectric components and the approach of having a dedicated monitoring circuit for each piezoelectric component.

[0021]If the monitoring means are or include a plurality of monitoring circuits each connected to a respective piezoelectric component, the apparatus enables energy saving in a configuration where there is a dedicated monitoring circuit for each piezoelectric component.

Problems solved by technology

In machines, devices and systems in which a plurality of piezoelectric components are employed and in which each of the piezoelectric components must be monitored in respective monitoring means, power consumption is high even at times when none of the piezoelectric components is being used since the monitoring is apt to consume power.

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